Donelan Wines is a journey of quality and passion: for wine, for people, for terroir expressed in a series of Rhone- and Burgundy-inspired Cuvees and Sonoma County single vineyard wines. The Donelan Family of Wines strives to produce pure unadulterated wines that are a pleasure to drink on release and will reward your patience as they age gracefully in your cellar.
The variety & quality of the wines were great. The owners were also very friendly & accomodating to our dogs, allowed them in the tasting room and even shut the door so they could run free. It was a gorgeous day and when another group decided to taste outside on the deck, we decided to finish ours there as well, a really nice outdoor space with great views.
What a delightful hidden gem worth the short jaunt off the main road. The jovial Scott gave us an extended pour of some wonderful if overpriced wines. but the out door tasting was a treat and the much lower traffic spend some real personal attention.
Grey Stack makes bold, unrestrained Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from Bennett Valley, a small appellation in Sonoma County. Grey Stack harvested it's first grapes in 2005 and released its first wines in 2007 - the 2006 Rosemary's Block Sauvignon Blanc and 2005 Marie's Block Syrah from Dry Stack Vineyard. Since then, Grey Stack continues to make Rosemary's Block - one of the most acclaimed and respected Sauvignon Blancs in the new world - along with outstanding examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from several distinct vineyard sites in Bennett Valley.
The beautiful terraces of Nuns Cliff Vineyard arise at 1400 feet, high above the cliffs overlooking Nuns Canyon. The west facing vineyard slopes are planted in red volcanic soils, considered by many winemakers to be the best Cabernet Sauvignon ground on the Mayacamas Mountain Range dividing Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. Blue/black in the glass, this wine exhales a heady perfume of juicy black fruits, toffee, and spicy notes of peppercorn and sage.
They offer private tasting at their Alexander Valley Estate in Healdsburg by appointment only (call tasting room or make an appointment request online). The tasting takes approximately two hours & the tasting fee is $25 per person, which is refunded with a purchase. Parker gave 7 of their wines a perfect 100 score. It's going on my winery to-do list! :)
The best part of this whole experience was just sitting around this table with lovers of the industry, chatting under that shaded oak tree on a cool Sonoma morning. The owner and wine maker, Mac has an amazing story and he tells it well. Growing up in Texas, he was the son of a moonshine maker. After tasting his first bottle of fine Italian wine at the age of 12, he vowed to become a wine maker. And that's exactly what he did. He became a great one. After 1.5 hours of driving, we arrive at Vision Cellars. Down this winding road we go. Small country road where large parts had eroded. We turn into a driveway through a farm gate and park in front of a barn. To the left is a house. To the right is another barn and a newer living quarters. Behind all of that are rows of vines. Um, where's the paved road leading to the fountain in front of a lavish tasting room? Not here. No sir. Great wine with a vintner who has history to share. Vision Cellars is a boutique winery featuring Pinot Noir. Know that as you enjoy your first, it won't be your last glass of Vision Cellars wine. Sipping with Mac, is where it's at!
Hafner Vineyard is a small family winery tucked away in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. For 30 years we have been making Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay only from grapes grown at our winery. Wines are sold directly to patrons and to leading California restaurants, but not in any stores.
The wines are delicious, the employees are knowledgable and friendly.The view is magnificent perfect for enjoying a few glasses of wine during a sunset. The cellar carved into the mountain reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings.
At Silverstone, our winemaker has selected 2-year old American Oak barrels with just a hint of toasty oak influence to enhance the flavors of the wines and highlight the delicate character. Our winemaking regime is attentive with top quality always in mind, starting with vineyard selection, gentle fermentation technique and just the right amount of barrel and bottle aging. Each individual lot of wine is tasted throughout its maturation in the barrel to determine what will be the best blend for the final wine.
